Here’s an interview
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Chris Henry/Cyclingnews.com
Can you imagine a Belgian cycling site without a visit from Eddy? In an attempt to live up to our bragging tag line, “the spot for NY cycling,” we bring you an interview with America’s
HEY GEORGE, FIRST, I MUST SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR INCREDIBLE SEASON DURING THE PAST DECADE. IN CASE YOU DON’T KNOW ME, THIS IS ANDRE SIMON. WE ROAD WITH KCC TOGETHER AS A JUNIOR. AL TOFIELD WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE CLUB BACK THEN. WE’RE TALKING 1986/87 AND UP. I WAS PROBABLY THE ONLY BLACK JUNIOR RIDER OUT THERE ALONG WITH EVERY ONE ELSE TRYING TO STAY ON YOUR WHEEL IN PROSPECT PARK AND CENTRAL PARK NEW YORK. YOU ARE INDEED FROM OUTTER SPACE. {SUPERMAN} EVERY JUNIOR AND SENIOR RIDER FEARED YOU. WHEN IT WAS TIME TO RACE, I COULDN’T EVEN SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE, BECAUSE YOU WERE SCHEDUALED TO RACE. WHEN YOU SHOWED UP AT THE RACE, WE ALL KNEW IT WAS OVER. AND WE WERE RIGHT. YOU LAPED THE FIELD. THOSE WERE THE GOOD OLD DAYS. IN MY BOOK, YOU ARE THE GREATEST ATHLETE AND STILL IS. IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECT, YOU, RICHARD AND ISSENDORF RODE FOR ATALA BACK IN 1986. I HAVE ALWAYS ADMIRED YOUR RACING STYLE AND PATTERN. I AM PROUD TO HAVE KNOWN YOU DURING THOSE TIMES. I MOVED TO WEST VIRGINIA WHERE THE SCENERY IS INCREDIBLE. HOWEVER, I NOW HAVE A FAMILY AND A BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER NAMED MADISON. SHE IS 28 MTHS OLD. I’M NOT RIDING AS MUCH AS I SHOULD, BUT CYCLING WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY HEART. I REMEBER BEING AT THE MENGONI RACE IN CENTRAL PARK AND YOU GOT ON MY CASE FOR WATCHING THE RACE AND NOT BEING IN THE RACE. THAT WAS PRETTY MOTIVATING. I DEFINATLY HAVE TO GET BACK ON THE BIKE. HOW IS YOUR FATHER DOING? PLEASE TELL HIM I SAID HI ALONG WITH THE FAMILY
MADDRE@ADELPHIA.NET
I loved the question about racing in the park. It really puts things into perspective. Great read!
Goodluck in the classics for 05′ GH!
Nice interview.
In 1990 as a cat 3 I did a 2/3 race in PA that GH won. No surprise there but what was SICK was how. It was about a 3 mile circuit 45 miles or so. It was pouring and the course was really technical and fast with short climbs and twisting descents. There was a metal grate bridge crossing where you had to slow down to a crawl because it was so slick, immediately after the bridge you made a right hand 180 degree turn and went up a steep 100 meter gravel and dirt climb that was only wide enough for 2 abreast.
The first time up the dirt climb GH pulled off with some kind of mechanical problem. Coming through the bridge the second time you could see GH going up the climb, so he was almost a full lap down. The fourth time up he blew past me on the same climb. I skidded into the grass a few laps later on a hairy descent and watched the finish where GH finished first by himself!
One thing about pros in Central Park. I remember when the Tour Dupont did a stage in CP they went clockwise for some reason.
THE GUY IS A LIVING LEGEND!